Many Native Americans believe that they do not follow a religion but instead celebrate spiritual beliefs. Native Americans have on of the more diverse fellowhips because there are many tribes that have been spread out throughout the years that cultures have expanded and grown to comprise what we call Native American traditions. The Native Americans focus on the land and the supernaturual. They believe in things that can't be expained and love to develop stories of spirits, death, and the 'other side'.
Many Native American's celebrate what is known presently as panthesim. Panthesim is the belief that spirituality and God are the same thing. They feel a storng relationship to the spirits and to nature. They love the idea of deep connections with the world around them. Throughout the years, however, as people began to migrate to America from Europe, more religions were entertwined into the Native American culture views of religion. Christianity was brought from Europe to the United States when they first arrvied centuries ago. Christianity is now celebrated in a majority of the Native American tribes and often times practice Christianity with other tribal religions.
Religious philosophies of Native American's is said to be one that is trying to find a way to respect the world around them, to respects God's creation, and treat others (and all living things) with the respect that they rightfully deserve. Native American's belieed in a higher spiritual being that had support on Earth to help. They felt that the European men and women that arrived on their land were not as respectful for their land. They felt that the travelers didn't care as much for the people and living things around them like they did. They didn't really believe in a 'hell' but they did have the common thought that people who did bad things would go to a bad place once they died. The same was for good people as well. If you were good throughout life you were thought to go to a good place but that wasn't exactly Heaven. They weren't all that fond of being taken hold of materialism and did not understand the concept of being attached to man-made things. Native American's believed that being parted with cherished items from a young age would remove the feeling of want that materialism brought.
Vine Deloria Jr is one of the more known philosophers of Native american religion. He is a Native American activist that promotes self-determiniation. HIs books discussed the idea that European settlers and the now U.S government did not properly distribute the needs to the Native Americans. (more information on Deloria)
A video that looks at Native American thoughts. While it's not necessarily focused on the religion, it does talk about their spiritual belief which is, in its own way, part of their religion
Native American Religion
Many Native Americans believe that they do not follow a religion but instead celebrate spiritual beliefs. Native Americans have on of the more diverse fellowhips because there are many tribes that have been spread out throughout the years that cultures have expanded and grown to comprise what we call Native American traditions. The Native Americans focus on the land and the supernaturual. They believe in things that can't be expained and love to develop stories of spirits, death, and the 'other side'.Many Native American's celebrate what is known presently as panthesim. Panthesim is the belief that spirituality and God are the same thing. They feel a storng relationship to the spirits and to nature. They love the idea of deep connections with the world around them. Throughout the years, however, as people began to migrate to America from Europe, more religions were entertwined into the Native American culture views of religion. Christianity was brought from Europe to the United States when they first arrvied centuries ago. Christianity is now celebrated in a majority of the Native American tribes and often times practice Christianity with other tribal religions.
Religious philosophies of Native American's is said to be one that is trying to find a way to respect the world around them, to respects God's creation, and treat others (and all living things) with the respect that they rightfully deserve. Native American's belieed in a higher spiritual being that had support on Earth to help. They felt that the European men and women that arrived on their land were not as respectful for their land. They felt that the travelers didn't care as much for the people and living things around them like they did. They didn't really believe in a 'hell' but they did have the common thought that people who did bad things would go to a bad place once they died. The same was for good people as well. If you were good throughout life you were thought to go to a good place but that wasn't exactly Heaven. They weren't all that fond of being taken hold of materialism and did not understand the concept of being attached to man-made things. Native American's believed that being parted with cherished items from a young age would remove the feeling of want that materialism brought.
Vine Deloria Jr is one of the more known philosophers of Native american religion. He is a Native American activist that promotes self-determiniation. HIs books discussed the idea that European settlers and the now U.S government did not properly distribute the needs to the Native Americans. (more information on Deloria)
Brief Native American Stories and Relgious Thoughts